Delander: When parents are wrong

Bad behavior at sporting events starts at the top

"That's not very Christian of you," came the shout from the stands following a personal foul penalty on a player from one of the state's religious-based schools.

Funny.

A few rows over, another parent of a local student-athlete (emphasis on student) continued his increasing rant against the coach of his son's team.

"C'mon. Throw the football!" he shouted, surrounded by hundreds of other adults and children. "You (bleep)! What do you expect when we run the (bleep) ball every time!?!"

Not funny. Not cool. Simply not right.

C'mon, parents. Please grow up while attending the sporting events of your sons and daughters. Set a proper example and realize the setting you are in -- this isn't the pros and this isn't college. It's prep sports. Let's relax and let's be encouraging.

It was irritating but not the least bit surprising to see youngsters in the Little League World Series showboating after home runs, showing up opposing pitchers by pausing at home plate before slowly trotting to first base.

Those little kids learned it from professional ball players; it's all over SportsCenter, a la Detroit Tigers Carlos Guillen's bat flip after blasting a home run off the Angels' Jered Weaver earlier this month. An ugly fight ensued.

Young athletes emulate the pros. Young children emulate adults, even those eye-bulging, red-faced "adults" screaming at and taunting game officials, opposing players (teenagers, by the way) and, yes, even the home-team coach.

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Sometimes, the gatekeepers are the instigators. I've seen a local athletic director lead a tirade against his own school's players during a hard-fought playoff game. I've seen a parent's entire body literally shake for three quarters, unable to control himself after what he thought was a bad call against his kid.

I've known coaches -- good coaches -- who have walked away from the position rather than put up with overbearing, entitled parents, a legion that has been growing and getting more ridiculous over the past decade.

OK, we get it. You are proud of your child and you want to support them.

Well, that's great. Cheer for them, high-five another fan in the stands, stomp your feet and rattle a cowbell or something. Stand up and do a little dance, whistle and scream.

Just don't be a jerk.

And we are all complicit. It is rare (though it has happened, gloriously) to see a real adult in the room dress-down a boorish parent.

When you see or hear a mentally stunted adult use profanity, berate a player or coach (on either team) or generally act like an idiot, call them out on it. Someone has to set an example, and too often other parents are afraid to tell an out-of-line parent to zip it.

How can anyone get upset at the teens in the student section who chant offensive things when we all know where they learned it?

Anyone who thinks I'm being sensitive here should listen to the PA announcement before games, a message from the CHSAA imploring attendees to be respectful and courteous. Has it worked? Not yet.

Here's a little guideline for loud-mouthed adults with no self-control or common sense.

A. Just because you played a year of varsity football in high school does not mean you know more than the coach does.

B. Just because you paid the athletic fees and have shuttled your child back and forth to practice and games all these years does not mean you can act ugly and let loose with whatever insults enter your little head.

C. Realize it is just a game. Chances are very good that your kid is not going to get a scholarship; let them play and let the coaches coach.

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